ECJ’s correspondent in Scandinavia, Petra Sjouwerman, gives us an update from Denmark. The municipality of Gladsaxe is the first in the country to achieve the new Nordic standard for cleaning, Insta 800. This has resulted in a significant improvement in cleaning quality, while employee motivation has also increased.

ECJ’S UK correspondent reports on the cleanliness situation in the National Health Service (NHS).

A shadow hung over the usual jollifications at ISSA/Interclean in Amsterdam following the totally unexpected death of Peter Holt, and although there was news of orders and success, it had a hollow ring this time.

Nico Lemmens of ISS Facility Services in the Netherlands reports on negotiations for a new collective agreement.

Since last autumn the Dutch cleaning association OSB and the trades unions have been negotiating to reach agreement on a new collective labour agreement. The last one was agreed upon in April 2012, after a long period of dispute

German reporter Thomas Schulte-Marxloh on the problems caused to small and medium sized businesses by late payment of invoices.

In Germany an invoice has to be paid within 30 days and, luckily, the vast majority of customers are paying on time. Some customers, however, seem to lack either payment behaviour or money. Public authorities seem to be